The Senate used to be known for its Comity, and to a lesser extent the House too. Both sides of aisle would show the other professional respect. Both side would appeal to the best intentions of the other to "get stuff done." And somehow miraculously, these Legislative branches would get important stuff done.
com·i·ty ˈkämitē/
noun: comity; plural noun: comities
1. courtesy and considerate behavior toward others.
2. an association of nations for their mutual benefit.
the mutual recognition by nations of the laws and customs of others.
plural noun: comity of nations
Respect, purpose, and a willingness to compromise,
for the sake of the nation. That is what they
used to be known for. Now the new Majority Leader-elect Mitch McConnell wants to travel down
Comity-road again. Now, that he's setting the Legislative agenda for the nation. Now -- he wants everyone to "work together" and get stuff done.
NOW. That it will be the Democratic Party doing most of the compromising. Now the Leader of the record-setting filibuster gridlock, is appealing to this once revered sense of comity, now that it's his reputation on the line.
Why then, did the Senate Leader-elect, lead the charge to block all these well-intentioned Bills and more:
H.R. 12 – Paycheck Fairness Act
H.R. 448 – Elder Abuse Victims Act
H.R. 466 – Wounded Veteran Job Security Act
H.R. 577 – Vision Care for Kids Act
H.R. 626 – Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act
H.R. 1029 – Alien Smuggling and Terrorism Prevention Act
H.R. 1262 – Water Quality Investment Act
H.R. 1429 – Stop AIDS in Prison Act
H.R. 1469 – Child Protection Improvements Act
H.R. 1709 – STEM Education Coordination Act
H.R. 1722 – Telework Improvements Act
H.R. 1803 – Veterans Business Center Act
H.R. 1842 – Expanding Entrepreneurship Act
H.R. 1845 – Small Business Development Centers Modernization Act
H.R. 1875 – End the Trade Deficit Act
H.R. 1879 – National Guard Employment Protection Act
H.R. 2093 – Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act
H.R. 2142 – Government Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Performance Improvement Act
[...]
If "
working together" is SO important
NOW --
where in the world was that sentiment, back THEN when these worthy Democratic actions where being proposed?
That sentiment was being shelved -- just like those Democratic Bills. And not on merit either, but rather because of their obstinate mean-spirited sense spite ...
If Mitch now wants to return to "Normalcy" and to quit "Governing by Crisis" to Crisis -- one question: Tell us "esteemed colleague" from the other side -- Where was that sense of cooperation when you set your Party's course here:
Mitch McConnell: Top Priority, Make Obama a One Term President
Mitch McConnell Reaffirms His Top Priority To Limit Barack Obama To One Term
Where was that sense of "cooperation and respect" for Democrats, from the would-be-leader of the Government Shutdown hostage-takers, when he told them this:
McConnell (R-Ky.) argued Tuesday that such a move was poorly considered.
“I just don’t happen to think filibustering a bill that defunds Obamacare is the best route to defunding Obamacare," McConnell said. “All it does is shut down the government and keep Obamacare funded. And none of us want that."
Instead, McConnell said, Republicans should let the legislative process move forward and try to block Reid's expected amendment stripping the Obamacare provision.
Could it be that those who cherish, and respect, and honor our system of Governing SO MUCH,
that whenever they get their opportunity to set new policies and new agendas again --
by the will of The People --
their Top Priority is to Repeal & Replace the duly-elected accomplishments, achieved by their "esteemed colleagues" on the the other side of the aisle.
It would seem this sense of senatorial Comity is indeed a One-way Street. In more ways than one. It is the Dump-truck they park in the middle of the road, during rush-hour traffic. And it is the Bull-dozer they drive to tear up that road, wherever the American people are 'gracious enough' to once again entrust them with the Agenda Keys.
If Dems were smart, they'd give them a healthy dose of the GOP's own Block Everything gridlock-medicine.
But whoever said, 'Dems were smart' -- Street-smart that is. There goes our 'lunch money' again ... just give them their one-way, or the highway, time.